Skip to main content

TED-Ed

The high-stakes race to make quantum computers work - Chiara Decaroli

407,123 Views

6,129 Questions Answered

TEDEd Animation

Let’s Begin…

Quantum computers could eventually outstrip the computational limits of classical computers. They rely on the behavior of atomic and subatomic particles, whose quantum states are incredibly fragile and easily destroyed— which is why this technology remains largely theoretical. How would quantum computers work, and are they really possible? Chiara Decaroli investigates.

Additional Resources for you to Explore

Learn more about the educator, Chiara Decaroli at ETH Zurich, on her website.

Watch this video to see IBM's Dr. Talia Gershon (Senior Manager, Quantum Research) explains quantum computing to 5 different people; a child, teen, a college student, a grad student and a professional.

In this video, TED Fellow Shohini Ghose explains quantum computing in 10 minutes.

Here is a good explainer video about quantum computers. Watch this video to hear Professor Jonathan Home from ETH Zurich explain how to build a quantum computer.

For further reading, try this article which is an MIT technology review about the state of the art quantum computers, what they are and when will they be more powerful than classical computers, and this one which is a scientific state of the art review of the progress and challenges in building a trapped ion quantum computer.

Here are some websites that go into even more detail:

A university group focusing on trapped ions
A University group focusing on superconducting qubits
A University group focusing on trapped ions
A US company which is building trapped-ion quantum computers
A large European project supporting quantum technologies
The IBM superconducting quantum computer

About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

Educator
Chiara Decaroli
Director
Igor Coric
Narrator
Christina Greer
Animator
Nemanja Petrovic
Director of Production
Gerta Xhelo
Editorial Producer
Alex Rosenthal
Associate Producer
Bethany Cutmore-Scott
Associate Editorial Producer
Elizabeth Cox
Script Editor
Eleanor Nelsen
Fact-Checker
Eden Girma

More from How Things Work